Today
Financial Review wins Gold Quill award
The Australian Financial Review’s David Marin-Guzman took out Victoria’s top journalism prize for his work on the Building Bad investigation.
This Month
CFMEU asks court for more powers despite crackdown
The CFMEU has challenged new limits to its delegates powers, including making them subject to “reasonable employer policies” and a prohibition on obstructing work.
Forget US-style racketeering laws, a restored ABCC can clean up CFMEU
The key tools are police access to coercive powers and a new Australian Building and Construction Commission.
Victoria police reject Allan’s claim about CFMEU crackdown advice
Jacinta Allan said it was the acting police commissioner’s fault that she said a nine-month-old operation against thuggery in the construction industry was new.
Dutton backs US-style racketeering laws to tackle CFMEU
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton brands Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan’s response to reports of CFMEU and bikie misconduct on government projects as “a wet lettuce”.
February
CFMEU crackdown stymied by court challenge, as gangs evolve: report
A report on the CFMEU administration says ousted officials’ High Court challenge has deterred whistleblowers and halted plans to clean out the union.
CFMEU administration in turmoil after fourth senior exit
A fourth senior staffer working on cleaning out the CFMEU has quit after feeling stonewalled by other people within the administration, as protesters stormed a union office.
Ex-CFMEU officials delay corruption case until after High Court ruling
Despite expectations that he would enter a plea, ousted union boss Darren Greenfield has secured another delay in the four-year bribery case.
December 2024
Industry slams ‘whitewash’ Victoria government report into CFMEU
Employer groups say Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan’s promise to strengthen whistleblower protections and clean up misbehaviour in the building industry ring hollow.
Ousted CFMEU officials left in charge of $7m trust
Ex-CFMEU officials, including former NSW leader Darren Greenfield, are on a union-related fund that controls several million dollars, some four months since the union went into administration.
Union warns it might back Greens as CFMEU goes to the High Court
Electrical Trades Union national secretary Michael Wright said the Greens had been on “the right side of history” on union issues.
Investigation launched into claims ousted CFMEU boss used CCTV to spy
The Fair Work Commission investigation into former NSW union boss Darren Greenfield is the first under Labor’s laws that prevent former officials obstructing the administration of the CFMEU.
Labor created loophole for CFMEU to delay projects: builders
Builders have accused the union of exploiting Labor’s new laws for safety delegates to get around “fit and proper” restrictions on entering building sites, disrupting projects.
November 2024
CFMEU foists officials onto the board of Cbus
The union is being administered by Mark Irving KC. But he doesn’t call all the shots, as shown by the appointment of Paddy Crumlin to Cbus.
CFMEU-busting investigation winners laud whistleblowers, sources
The panel judging the Walkley Awards said the Breaking Bad series was “an incredible, courageous feat of investigative journalism”.
AFR’s Marin-Guzman wins Gold Walkley for Building Bad report
Reporter David Marin-Guzman was part of a team that uncovered construction companies’ dirty dealings with bikies and underworld identities.
$11m in fines, 1000 breaches: Labor defends CFMEU crackdown in court
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has cited $10.6 million in fines against the CFMEU as part of the government’s defence of laws that forced the union into administration.
How CFMEU wields control of a $1.2b workers’ redundancy fund
The chief executive of Incolink warned an employer group that the union could deprive it of tens of millions of dollars if they did not agree to demands.
Qld to end CFMEU entitlements for rainy and humid days
Industry conditions that allow for a month of rostered days off a year for unionised construction workers have been suspended by the new Queensland government.
October 2024
Jobs go as troubled industry super giant Cbus rolls out restructure
Street Talk asked Cbus how many roles reported to chief investment officer Brett Chatfield now versus his appointment in June 2023.